Endgate



April 1953 R. R. BRUNING 2,635,688

ENDGATE I Filed Dec. 10, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 42 l LE E I F E i J a i E 8 1-80 5 72 1/ E i I6--1L i 76 I i g ,14

12K Z 74 56 82 a2"? E f yrs Fig. I0 I Ralph R. Bruning INVENTOR.

April 1953 R. R. BRUNING 2,635,688

ENDGATE Filed Dec. 10, 1951 2 swam-swarm 2 Ralph endin I N V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. 21, 1 953 Ralph R. Bruning', Ellsworth, Kans. Application December 10, 1951, Serial No. 260,871

' This invention relates generally to gate structures, and more particularly to end gates for use with dump vehicle bodies and the like, which are adapted to convey and conveniently dispense granular materials, particularly grain.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved end gate having the lower vertically sliding gate membenwhereby the contents oi a truck body to which it is attached can be readily removed "Another object of this invention is to provide an end post structure for an end gate which provides a vertical guideway for a vertically sliding lower gate member. 'Another object of this invention is to provide a vertically sliding lower gate member which is reenforced against bowing by the contents of the container to which it is attached.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved end gate which is durable and eflicient in use, and at the same time simple and easy to manufacture, v r

K'fu'r'the'r object of this invention is to provide an end gate havingimproved means for raising and lowering a lower vertically sliding gate member.

These, together withvarious ancillary-features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the, following description proceeds, are attained bythe present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a truck body having mounted thereon an end gate which is the subject of this invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the end gate shown in Figure l with the lower gate member removed;

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the end gate with the lower gate member and its 2.55001 ated operating linkage removed;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the lower gate member and shows the reenforcing means there 1 Claim. (Cl. 160-224) 2 Figure 8 is a partial transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the section line 88 of Figure 2' and shows the construction of the intermediate basing; I

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the sec-' secured to the inner sides of the sides of the' truck body in which the end gate structure is received and retained;

Referring now more specifically to the accom panying drawings, wherein like numerals desig nate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen thatthe embodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings has illustrated the principles of the invention, comprises an im-v proved end gate structure adapted for mounting on a truck body or other similar structure. Referring more specifically to Figure 1, it will be seen that the end gate structure which is the subject of this invention is shown as being mounted on a truck body'having a fiat bed In and side walls 12 and M." The end gate; consists of a pair of spacedend posts I6, a fixed upper gate section l8, a lower movable gate section 23 and means for raising and loweringthe-lower gate member 20;

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that the end post I6 and the fixed upper gate member l8 are rigidly secured together as a unit. The upper gate member l8 consists of an elongated plate member 22 having secured to its upper and lower edges by a plurality of screws 24 upper and lower fiat elongated strips 26 and 28 respectively.

Rigidly bolted to the front and rear faces of the gate member 1 8 are vertically extended elongated plates 30 and 32. The elongated plates 30 and 32 are secured inwardly of the side edges of the upper gate member H! by a plurality of bolts 34. The elongated vertical plates 30 and 32 extend along the lower edge of the upper gate member l8 and have welded therebetween a rectangular tubular member 36 in alignment therewith. The outer edges of the tubular member 36 are in alignment with the side edges of the gate member l8, and the inner edges of the tubular members 36 extending inwardly of the inner edges of the elongated vertical plates 30 and 32. Other vertically extending plates 33 are secured to the rear vertically extending plates 36 in spaced parallel relation to the tubular members 36 and the rear surface of the elongated plate 22 to form a pair of aligned vertically extending guide ways 40. Secured to the upper ends of the rear plates 30 adjacent their upper ends are a pair of aligned rod receiving brackets 42. Carried by the plate 22 at its center is a transverse vertical extending plate 44 having at its upper end a horizontal flange 46 overlying the upper edge of the plate 22, and a downwardly extending vertical flange 48 countersunk in the rear surface of the plate 22. Rigidly secured to the downturned flange 48 is another rod receiving bracket 50 in alignment with the rod receiving brackets 42 mounted on the end posts [6. The rod receiving brackets 42 and 59 have aligned rod receiving passageways 52 therein.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be seen that the lower gate member 2!! consists of an elongated flat plate 54 having mounted on its rearsurface adjacent the side edges thereof pairs of spaced parallel arms 56 normal to the rear surface thereof. Also secured to the rear surface of the plate 52 are a pair of spaced parallel horizontally extending reenforcing truss elements 58. The truss elements 58 include a tension cord member 50 and a plurality of stiffening brace members 62 extending between the cord 88 and the rear surface of the plate 50.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be seen that the lower gate member 28 is mounted in the guide- '3 ways 40 and normally resting on the upper sur face of the truck bed [0. A horizontally extending rod E4 is mounted in the rod receiving passageways 52 of the brackets 42 and 50 for rotation therein, Rigidl secured to the rod 64 is a pair of first links 66 having at their free ends eyes 68. An operating handle 18 is rigidly secured to the rod 64 adjacent the bracket and lying in the same plane as the first link 66.

Pivotally secured between the pairs of plates 56 on the rear surface of the lower gate member 20 are second links 12. The second links 12 are secured to the plates 56 by bolts 74 passing through eye ends 16 on the second links. The other end of the second links 12 are also provided with eyes 18 which are pivotally secured to the eyes 68 or the first links 66 by bolts 80.

In view of the foregoing, it will be readily seen that when the handle is pivoted towards a horizontal position, the rod 64 will be rotated with the result that the first links 56 will also be body are vertically extending channels 82 in which the entire end gate structure is slidably received and retained.

From the foregoing, the construction and oper ation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

' However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact-construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: 7

An end gate comprising a fixed upper gate member and a movable lower gate member, end posts carried by said upper gate member forming a guideway for said lower gate member, means for moving said lower gate member vertically in said uideway, said end posts including front and rear vertical plate members secured to the front and rear faces of said upper gate member adjacent the edges thereof, tubular members secured between said plate members below said upper gate member, other plate members secured to the rear plate members in parallel spaced relation to said tubular members to form the vertical guideways for said lower gate member.

RALPH R. BRUNING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 531,907 Chattin et a1 Jan. 1, 1895 1,204,971 Gordon Nov. 14, 1916 1,532,540 McIalwain Apr. 7, 1925 1,829,169 Thieman Oct. 2'7, 1931 2,258,203 Conover a Oct. '7, 1941 

